Obstacles to Overcome When Convincing a Senior to Move to Assisted Living

Moving to Assisted Living Mobile AL

Moving to Assisted Living Mobile AL

Even with the excitement of buying a new house, changing cities, or being closer to family and friends – moving is stressful and not many people enjoy it.

There’s a lot that goes into moving, including packing. For seniors, that makes things even more stressful. It’s one of many reasons some seniors choose to avoid topics like assisted living, even though they would benefit from elder care.

The entire notion of having to pack up and downsize while getting rid of many items they’ve accumulated over the course of their life can all add stress and make the process much more difficult.

When seniors latch onto an excuse, it can feel impossible to convince them to even give it a try.

How To Overcome This Obstacle

First, try to find a way to redirect their attention. In other words, if the senior keeps focusing on the prospect of moving and going through all that stress, they will never see the benefits assisted living can offer.

Help them understand the value of elder care and understand how challenging life is right now. They get it, they really do. Unfortunately, they may have certain misconceptions about assisted living and how much of a positive experience it can be.

You can also encourage them to try it out, even for a short time. Certain assisted living communities, if they have space available, offer what is referred to as respite care services. The elderly person doesn’t have to pack up all of their belongings, their entire life, and make a full-time commitment if they aren’t quite sure of this elder care community.

What Type of Respite Care May be Available?

An aging senior might be able to stay the nights at a local assisted living community. If they are still able to drive, which in many cases they might not be, or can get a ride, they can be dropped off in the evening, enjoy companionship, fellowship, and a safe environment to sleep in during those overnight hours.

Then, somebody can pick them up in the morning and return them home, where they are most comfortable. This is one amazing way for elderly men and women to see the value assisted living can offer these days. They may also be able to spend a few days a week at a local facility. If a family caregiver or other individual is heading out of town for a week or two, a local facility may be able to provide them comfort, security, and safety for that length of time.

The idea of moving can be daunting for just about anyone, but for seniors it can feel overwhelming. It can even feel like losing your entire identity, your purpose, and your independence.

When family and friends understand those challenges, those struggles, they might be able to help their loved ones see the value assisted living offers for elder care through respite care options.

If you or an aging loved one are considering a move to an Assisted Living in Mobile, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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